As summer fades away at last

And bows to autumn’s majesty

She softly smiles and gathers up

Her blanket of frivolity

Revealing leaves of golden-brown

In layers as they tumble down

Whilst autumn rustles russet skirts

To set the fallen to affray

Summer glances back once more

She’d love to, but she cannot, stay

To linger here would cause despair

For natures children must prepare

‘Tis time to take stock and reserve

Their place in this year’s colder phase

With harvesting and lining nests

In lieu of winter’s icy ways

Now’s not the time to laze and shirk

Survival instinct hard at work

One watchful eye on changing sky

They toil and track their progress yet

For once the swallows start to fly

With parting calls lest they forget

That when the autumn’s had her fun

It’s time for bed, their duties done.